Denise Lee Richards (born February 17, 1971) is an American actress
and former fashion model. She came to fame in the late 1990s, after a
string of films that highlighted her sex appeal, including Wild Things
and The World Is Not Enough. Richards is also known for her marriage
to (and divorce from) actor Charlie Sheen.
Early life
Richards was born in Downers Grove, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, to
Irving Richards, who used to work for a phone company, and Joni, who
owns a chain of coffeehouses named "Jitters". She is of Welsh descent
on her father's side and of Croatian descent on her mother's, and was
raised a Catholic. Richards moved to California with her family when
she was 14 and graduated from El Camino High School in Oceanside,
California, where she practiced cheerleading as a sport.
Denise's Career
Richards spent the majority of the 1990s appearing in lower-budget
films, television movies, and guest starring in episodes of several
television shows. Her first starring role in a wide theatrical release
was Starship Troopers in 1997, which was followed by her role in the
moderately successful cult film Wild Things in 1998. Richards was
subsequently cast as Dr. Christmas Jones in the James Bond film The
World Is Not Enough (1999), which had a high box office gross and
contributed to Richards' renown. In addition to her film work,
Richards has made regular appearances in the situation comedies Spin
City, Two and a Half Men, Friends and Seinfeld. She also starred in
the short-lived UPN series Sex, Love & Secrets in 2005.
Throughout the early 2000s, Richards appeared in several film roles
which both parodied and utilized her image as a sex symbol, including
Valentine, Undercover Brother and Scary Movie 3. In December of 2004,
she posed in a nude pictorial for Playboy magazine.
Personal life of Denise Richards
Richards has dated actor Patrick Muldoon. In 2002, she married actor
Charlie Sheen, with whom she appeared in Scary Movie 3, where she
played his character's dying wife. The couple have two daughters: Sam
J, who was born on March 9, 2004, and Lola Rose, who was born on June
1, 2005. Richards was named the Sexiest Mom of 2005 by In Touch
magazine.
briefly reconciled and were seeking marriage counseling to mend their
relationship. However, on January 4, 2006, Richards' representative
announced that she was continuing with the divorce, and she has
recently sought a restraining order against Sheen, citing his use of
death threats against her. She has since been linked to actor John
Stamos, whom she dated during her teenage years.
Richards reportedly enjoys kickboxing and has several dogs. She is a
On April 25, 2006, it was reported that Richards is romantically
involved with Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora who recently separated
from Heather Locklear.
Divorce from Charlie Sheen
laws of the state of California. In her 17-page court filing (not
counting additional supporting evidentiary documents), Richards
alleged that Sheen's behavior was increasingly erratic, making their
marriage impossible, and that she feared for her safety and the safety
of their two daughters: Sam J. and Lola Rose.
Richards claimed that Sheen was physically and verbally abusive and
threatened to kill her or have her killed, and that despite having
accidentally shot his previous fianc?e, Kelly Preston, he wanted to
place firearms under their coffee table to protect them. Richards
claimed that Sheen had become paranoid and obsessive, citing his
belief in 9/11 conspiracy theories, a belief that baby formula caused
brain damage, a desire to purchase gas masks, and an "abnormal
fascination" with Nicole Simpson's death.
Further, Richards alleged that Sheen visited prostitutes and was
addicted to gambling, prescription drugs (which he bought over the
Internet), and pornography. Richards also alleged that Sheen posted a
type" website and that he frequently viewed pornography featuring
"very young girls," and websites "involving gay pornography also
involving very young men who also did not look like adults."
Based on these allegations, Richards sought and received a restraining
order against Sheen.
Charlie Sheen denied the allegations. In an interview with
Entertainment Tonight co-anchor Mark Steines, he described Richards'
actions as a "smear campaign" and insisted that he was a responsible
father who would "give his life for his children." He added that
Richards is "the only one entirely culpable for putting these radical
allegations out for public consumption... my children included."